Great Britain 1797 George III 2 Pence Very Fine (VF20) $

Great Britain 1797 2 Pence Very Fine (VF-20)

The 1797 2 pence coin, often called the “Cartwheel” twopence, was a large copper coin issued during the reign of King George III. Struck at Matthew Boulton’s Soho Mint in Birmingham, it was revolutionary for being one of the first coins mass-produced using steam-powered machinery, ensuring consistent quality and weight. The coin was enormous—twice the size of the already hefty 1797 penny—because it contained its full value in copper, weighing a full two ounces. Its distinctive size and raised rim gave it the nickname “Cartwheel.” Although impressive, it proved impractical for everyday use due to its bulk, and production was limited to just that year, making it a fascinating and iconic piece of British coinage history.

Obverse: Laureate and draped portrait of George III facing right, with the legend around on a raised rim.
Reverse: Seated figure of Britannia facing left, with a trident in her left hand, an olive branch in her raised right hand, a shield bearing the Union flag resting on her left, with a seascape featuring a ship in the background to the left, mint mark below the shield, and the legend above and date below.

Specifications:
Monarch: George III (1760-1820)
Engraver: Conrad Heinrich Kuchler
Composition: Copper
Weight: 56.7 g
Diameter: 41 mm
Edge: Plain
Die Axis: ↑↓
Mint: The Soho Mint, Handsworth, United Kingdom
Mintage: 722,100